Trailer hitch



J. D. CATON TRAILER HITCH April 18, 1944.

Filed Aug. 26 1942 c/OSL'PH DOUGLA CA TON )6 M {m m grif iesti ati. 1a,1944 TRAILER BITCH .loseph Douglas Caton, Detroit, Mich assllnor toChrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich a corporation of DelawareApplicationliugust 26, 194-2, Serial No. 456,134

8 Claims. (Cl. 280-3344) My present invention relates to trailerhitches,

by which I mean a device lcapablepot attaching one movable vehicle toanother so that one or. said vehicles may draw the other along a road orother surface. The trailer hitch may be used to attach a trailer to anautomotive vehicle,.to attach one driven automotive vehicle to a drawnautomotive vehicle so as to permit the two vehicles to be moved undercontrol of a single driver, or to attach utility devices such asportable fire extinguishing units, air compressor units, or the like, toan automotive vehicle.

The present invention is designed to unite the driven vehicle to thedrawn vehicle through the medium of a bumper clamp and comprises a vertically adjustable fixed bumper hook having a pivoted bumper hookmounted thereon, which hooks are adapted to be clamped in position bymeans of a simple, sturdy, operating mechanism.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readilyapparent to those skilled in the art after a study of the followingspecification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawing,

Fig. l. is a side elevation of the present invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale with parts broken awayto illustratedetails of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;and c Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line Q-tl ofFig. 2.

The invention comprises a member iii adapted to form part of a universalpivot, the member having a ball pin ii projecting upwardly from its rearend for that purpose, the ball of the pin being adapted to fit into asocket in the draw bar 52 which is attached to the drawn vehicle (notshown). The member It forms part of a vertically adjustable joint, beingprovided for this purpose with a substantially vertical arm l3 having avertical, forwardly facing. surface M provided with a plurality ofhorizontal ridges l5 adapted to mesh with similar horizontal ridges onan opposed vertical face of a vertically adjustable fixed bumper hookmember 16. The arm 13 is provided with a pair of vertical slots i'ladapted to receive bolts l8 passed freely therethrough into threadedsockets IS in the vertical face of the member l6. The bolts l8 may beloosened to permit vertical adjustment of the member l6 upward fromitsaillustratedposition, and'if desired the member l8 maybe providedwith a plurality of threaded sockets H for afiording a greater degree ofvertical adjustment.

The member I! is provided with a hooked arm 20 which is adapted to hookover the upper edge of a bumper 2!, or the like, on the driven vehicle22. The arm 20 maybe provided with a plurality of hooks 23 for thepurpose of engaging the upper edges of difierent styles of bumpers. Themember I6 is provided with a central forwardly opening cavity 26 withinwhich is pivoted a movable bumper hook 25 provided with a hook 28adapted to hook under the lower edge of a biunper to whiclnthe fixedbumper hook has been adjusted. The movable bumper hook is pivoted abouta transverse pivotal axis provided by a pin 2? extending horizontallythrough the inner end of the cavity 2%. The member it is also providedwith a vertical bore 28 centrally intersecting the cavity 2d, and thepivoted bumper hook 25 is provided with an opening '29 of considerableextent and so arranged as to present an open space to the pro- Jectionof the bore 28 throughout a considerable range of movement of the bumperhook about its pivotal axis. A bolt 29d is slid longitudinally throughthe bore 2d and the opening 29 and a rider nut 36 is in threadedengagement with said bolt within the confines of the cavity 2 3 andresting against the lower surface of themovable hock 25. Rotation oisaid bolt relative to said rider nut causes vertical movement of saidrider nut and vertical swinging oi the movable book 25.

The head 532-02 bolt 3% is preferably engaged with the upper surtace ofa washer or integral boss so as to be projected above the upper surfaceoi the member it for ready engagement thereofi by a wrench or othersimilar tool. In order that the rider nut 35 may be held againstrotation when the bolt 3%) is rotated, the nut may be made so as to haveits sides in engagement with portions of the side walls of the cavity-25, and the side walls of the cavity 26 are therefore parallel andsubstantially vertical sothat the nut 36 may move vertically when thebolt is rotated. The lower surface of the hook 25 may be provided with arounded projection 34 within which the opening 29 is centrally locatedand the upper surface of the nut 3| may beprovided with a complementaryrounded surface35 within which the rounded projection 3| rests, thesurfaces thus givinggreater bearingsupport to the hooked arm 25. Thelower end of the bolt 30 may be provided a vertically upstanding portionprovided with a horizontally serrated side, a fixed bumper hook memberhaving a base portion provided with a serrated side for mating with saidserrated side of said support and having a projecting part adapted tohook over the upper edge of a vehicle bumper or the like, said fixedbumper hook member having a central cavity therein anda vertical boreintersecting said cavity, means coacting with said serrated sides ofsaid support and said hook member for releasably holding the latter in aselected one of a plurality of vertically spaced positions, an opposedmovable bumper hook transversely pivoted within said cavity and adaptedto hook under the lower edge of a bumper, said movable bumper hookhaving an opening there through of considerable extent and so positionedas to present an open space to the projection of said vertical borethroughout a considerable range of movement of said movable bumper hookabout its transverse pivotal axis, a threaded bolt freely passed throughsaid bore and said opening, and a rider nut in threaded engagement withsaid bolt within the confines of said cavity and engagement with thelower side of said In vable bumper hook.

2. A trailer hitch comprising a fixed bumper hook adapted to hook overthe upper edge of a vehicle bumper or the like, said fixed bumper hookhaving a central cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting saidcavity, an opposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within saidcavity and adapted to hook under the lower edge of a bumper, saidmovable bumper hook having an opening therethrough of considerableextent and so positioned as to present an open space to the projectionof said vertical bore throughout a considerable range of movement ofsaid movable bumper hook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threadedbolt freely passed through said bore and said opening, and a rider nutin threaded engagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavityand in engagement with the lower side of said movable bumper hook, saidrider nut being restrained against rotation by engagement with the sidesof said cavity and the sides of said cavity being substantially verticalwhereby rotation of said bolt causes vertical movement of said rider nutand pivotal movement of said movable bumper hook toward or away fromsaid fixed bumper hook.

3. A trailer hitch comprising a fixed bumper hook adapted to hook overthe upper edge of a vehicle bumper or the like, said fixed bumper hookhaving a central cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting saidcavity, an opposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within saidcavity and adapted to hook under the lower edge of a bumper, saidmovable bumper hook having an opening therethrough of considerableextent and so positioned as to present an open space to the projectionof said vertical bore throughout a considerable range of movement ofsaid movable bumper hook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threadedbolt freely passed through said bore and said opening, and a rider nutin threaded engagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavityand in engagement with the lower side of said movable bumper hook, saidrider nut being restrained against rotation by engagement with the sidesof said cavity and the sides of said cavity being substantially verticalwhereby rotation of said bolt causes vertical movement of said rider nutand pivotal movement of said movable bumper hook toward or away fromsaid fixed bumper hook, said movable bumper hook having a roundedprojection on its lower surface and said rider nut having acomplementary rounded cavity in its upper surface within which saidrounded projection rests.

4. A trailer hitch comprising a member adapted to form part of avertically adjustable joint, a fixed-bumper hook having a portionadapted to form the other part of said verticall adjustable joint andcomprising a hooked arm adapted to hook over the upper edge of a vehiclebumper or the like, means for maintaining said bumper hook in verticallyadjusted relation to said joint member, said fixed bumper hook having acentral cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting said cavity, anopposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within said cavity andadapted to hook under the lower edge of a bumper, said movable bumperhook having an opening therethrough of considerable extent and sopositioned as to present open space to the projection of said verticalbore throughout a considerable range of movement of said movable bumperhook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threaded bolt passed freelythrough said bore and said opening, and a rider nut in threadedengagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavity and inengagement with the lower side pf said movable bumper hook.

5. A trailer hitch comprising a member adapted to form part of avertically adjustable joint, a fixed bumper hook having a portionadapted to form the other part of said vertically adjustable joint andcomprising a hooked arm adapted to hook over the upper edge of a vehiclebumper or the like, means for maintaining said bumper hook in verticallyadjusted relationto said joint member, said fixed bumper hook having acentral cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting said cavity, anopposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within said cavity andadapted to hook under the lower edge of a bumper. said movable bumperhook having an opening therethrough of considerable extent and sopositioned as to present open space to the projection of said verticalbore throughout a considerable range of movement of said movable bumperhook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threaded bolt passed freelythrough said bore and said opening, and a rider nut in threadedengagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavity and inengagement with the lower side of said movable bumper hook, said ridernut being restrained against rotation by engagement with the sides ofsaid cavity and the sides of said cavity being substantially verticalwhereb rotation of said bolt causes vertical movement of said rider nutand pivotal movement of said movable bumper hook toward or away fromsaid fixed bumper hook.

6. A trailer hitch comprising a member adapted to form part of avertically adjustable joint, a fixed bumper hook having a portionadapted to form the other part of said vertically adjustable Joint andcomprising a hooked arm adapted to hook over the upper edge of a vehiclebumper or the like, means for maintaining said bumper hook in verticallyadjusted relation to said joint member, said fixed bumper hook having aventral cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting said cavity, anopposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within said cavity andadapted to hook under the lower edge of a bumper, said movable bumperhook having an opening therethrough of considerable extent and sopositioned as to present open space to the projection of said verticalbore throughout a considerable range of movement of said movable bumperhook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threaded bolt passed freelythrough said bore and said opening, and a rider nut in threadedengagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavity and inengagement with the lower side of said movable bumper hook, said ridernut being restrained against rotation by engagement with the sides ofsaid cavity and the sides of said cavity bein substantially verticalwhereby rotation of said bolt causes vertical movement of said rider nutand pivotal movement of said movable bumper hook toward or away fromsaid fixed bumper hook,

said movable bumper hook having a rounded proiection on its lowersurface and said rider nut having a complementary rounded cavity in itsupper surface within which said rounded projection rests.

7. A. trailer hitch comprising a support having a vertically upstandingportion provided with a horizontally serrated side, a fixed bumper hookmember having a base portion provided with a serrated side for matingwith said serrated side of said support and having a projecting partadapted to hook over one edge of a vertical bumper or the like, meansfor releasably holding the serrated sides of said support and hookmember in mated relation in a selected one of a plurality of verticallyspaced positions, an opposed movable bumper hook pivotally mounted onsaid fixed nook member and adapted to. hook over the other edge of saidbumper, and means for releasably clamping said projection part of saidfixed hook member and said movable bumper hook on said opposite edgeportion of said bumper.

8. A trailer hitch comprising a fixed bumper hook adapted to hook overone edge of a vehicle bumper or the like, said fixed bumper hook havinga central cavity therein and a vertical bore intersecting said cavity,an opposed movable bumper hook transversely pivoted within said cavityand adapted to hook under the opposite edge of said bumper, said movablebumper hook having an openin therethrough of considerable extent and sopositioned as to present an open space to the projection of saidvertical bore throughout a considerable range of movement of saidmovable bumper hook about its transverse pivotal axis, a threaded boltfreely passed through said bore and said opening,and a rider nut inthreaded engagement with said bolt within the confines of said cavityand in engagement with the lower side of said movable bumper hook, saidrider nut being restrained against rotation by engagement with the sidesof said cavity and the sides of said cavity being substantially verticalwhereby rotation of said bolt causes vertical movement of said rider nutand pivotal movement of said movable bumper hook toward or away fromsaid fixed bumper hook. v

' JOSEPH DQUGLAS CATON.

